Strip folder



March 7 1939. A. A. AcKE'RMAN 2,149,755

STRIP FOLDER Filed April 10, 1937 16 H I :fllbert v9. flekermm 19 19 vwmw I Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED SATES PATENT FEE s'r nr FOLDERApplication April 10, 1937, Serial No. 136,071

1'7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in strip-folding attachments foruse more particularly in connection with sewing machines and has for itsprimary object to facilitate the production of straps, belt-loops andkindred articles from strips of material.

The present invention also aims to provide a folder of simple andcompact form for-inturning the side edges of superposed strips ofmaterial.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement ofthe parts of the strip-folder described in connection with theaccompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of theinvention and in which:

Fig. 1 represents a vertical and substantially central longitudinalsection of the strip-folder, together with a transverse section of thebedplate of a sewing machine to which the stripfolder is applied. Fig. 2represents a top plan view of the strip-folder and a portion of thesewing macine bed-plate and presser-foot, and

illustrates the work in the finishing operation to form a strap. Fig. 3represents, in perspective, the individual casing and arbor units of thestripfolder. Fig. 4 represents a transverse section of the strip-foldersubstantially on the line ii of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 illustrates, inperspective, the end portions of the superposed strips as initiallysecured together. Fig. 6 illustrates, in perspective andpartly insection, the end portion of the strap in the finishing operation. Fig.'7 represents a transverse section of the finished strap intermediatethe ends thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the improved stripfolder is illustrated asapplied to a sewing machine having a bled-plate i provided with athroat-plate 2. Operating through said throatplate 2 is a feed-dog 3which may be actuated in any usual or suitable manner to advance thework. Opposed to the feed-dog 3 is a presserfoot 4 carried by the lowerend of a presser-bar 5, the presser-foot being provided with needleslots6 spaced transversely of the line of feed. A vertically reciprocatoryneedle-bar l carries at its lower end a pair of needles 8 (only one ofwhich is shown), arranged abreast with respect to the direction of feedof the work and cooperating below the throat-plate 2 with any usual orsuitable complementary stitch-forming mechanism (not shown).

The improved strip-folder has at one side thereof a supporting shank 9formed with slots IE to receive the folder securing screws l l which, inthe present instance, are threaded into the front slide-plate 12 of thebed-plate l. Carried by the folder-shank 9 is a primary folder-sectionor casing unit comprising a tubular casing l3, preferably although notnecessarily rectangular in cross-section. As illustrated in the drawing,the tubular casing 53 has a top wall i l, a bottom wall l5 and opposedside walls 58, said walls being tapered to define a tubular passagewayconstricted toward the delivery end of the folder. Projecting inwardlyfrom each of the side walls I6 is a fold-edge turning lip ll disposedsubstantially midway between the top and bottom casing-walls, the lipsll being spaced from eachv other and preferably extending from adjacentthe front end of the tubular casing to the delivery end thereof. Theupper and lower faces of the lips I! preferably merge concavely into therespective side walls l6, thereby providing a plurality of opposedcurved guiding walls adapted to inturn the edges of superposed strips ofmaterial.

The bottom wall l5 of the tubular casing it has a forward extension l5which forms the bottom of a trough having substantially parallel up-'standing side walls It extending forwardly from the casing side wallsHi, the side edges of the trough-bottom l5 being spaced from the sidewalls Hi, to define therebetween substantially parallel slots IS. Theforward end of the trough bottom wall I5 is bent under and is solderedor otherwise suitably secured to a cross-bar is connecting the sidewalls 86. Adjacent the front end of the tubular casing 83, the troughside walls iii are each provided with upwardly open notches 2B.

Complemental to the primary folder-section above described is anauxiliary folder-section or arbor unit 2! comprising a block 22 of whichthe side walls, adjacent one end of the block are provided with fianges23 forming spaced strip-guiding .ears extending above and below theupper and Extending rearwardly from the upper and lower faces of theblock 22, toward the delivery end of the folder, are preferablysubstantially fiat tongues or arbors 25 and 25 tapered toward the freeends thereof. The arbors are spaced from each other so that, in theoperative position thereof, the upper arbor 25 is disposed above and thelower arbor 26 below the plane of the casing lips H. The upper arbor 25has its free end terminating substantially at the delivery end of thetubular casing l3, while the lower arbor 26 has a reduced and preferablynarrowed extension or finger 2'! which in its operative positionunderlies the presser-foot 4 within the field of action of the feed-dog3. The presser-foot 4 is preferably provided in its work-engaging facewith a clearance groove 28 for said finger Z'l. The side edges of thearbors 25 and 2 5 are spaced from the side walls 16 of the casing l3 andare complemental to the inner concave faces of said casing, above andbelow the casing-lips H, in inturning the side edges of superposedstrips of material.

In the formation of straps and similar articles made from superposedstrips of material with inturned side edges, diiiiculty has beenexperienced in finishing the ends of the straps in a manner such thatthe ends of the strips are also inturned and secured by stitches. Inaccordance with the present improvement, the end portions of superposedstrips A and B are first secured together by a single line of stitchesS, conforming to the desired shape of the strap-end when finished, asillustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawing. The ends of the strips beyond theseam may be snipped off to remove surplus material, and the strips arethen reversed, i. e., the stitched strips are turned inside out, therebyto inturn the joined ends of the strips, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The arbor-unit 2| is withdrawn endwise from the casing-unit l3 and thetwo arbors 25, 26 are inserted between the reversed strips A and B,until the arbor-finger 27 engages the previously closed end of thestrips. One of the strips, as A, is thus disposed fiatwise upon thearbor 25 and between the upper of the stripguiding ears 23, while theother strip B is disposed fiatwise below the arbor Z6 and between thelower of the ears 23. The arbor unit 2|, thus loaded, is then insertedarbor-end first into the casing-unit l3 to seat the supporting pins 2 inthe side-wall notches 2i and the lower ends of the ears 23 in the slots.I8. By suitably spacing from each other the opposed lips I! of thecasing E3, the requisite clearance is afforded for operativelypositioning the loaded arbor-unit.

Inasmuch as the finger 27 in its operative position underlies thepresser-foot 4, it will be understood that the act of assembling theprimary and loaded auxiliary folder-sections serves also to position thepreviously closed end of the Work under the presser-foot. By now placingthe sewing machine in operation, the feed-dog 3 engages the lower ply ofthe work-strips and feeds said strips oil from the arbor-finger 27,thereby drawing the strips through the strip-folder. The margins of thestrips are thereby bent by the lips ll about the side-edges of thearbors 25 and 26, as will be readily understood, and the superposed,inturned side-edges of the strips are advanced to the needles 8 toreceive the stitches S and S, thereby to secure said inturned sideedges.

It will be noted that the auxiliary folder-section pins 24 are guidedinto the notches 2!! by the upper edges of the trough side-walls l6.Consequently, the auxiliary folder-section 2| need only be inserted intothe primary folder section sufficiently to enable the feed-dog 4 toengage and advance the work, whereby if desired the stitches S, S" maybe started substantially from the end of the strap. As the stitchingprogresses, the auxiliary folder-section is then advanced. into itsnormal operative position.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis:

1. A strip-folder for sewing machines, comprising, alongitudinally-tapered tubular casing having opposite side wallsprovided interiorly of the casing with opposed lips, arbors disposedwithin said casing above and below said lips and extendinglongitudinally of the casing in spaced relation to said side walls, andsup-porting means for said arbors.

2. A strip-folder for sewing machines, comprising, a tubular casinghaving opposite side walls provided interiorly of the casing andsubstantially medianly of the width of said side walls with opposedfold-edge turning lips, strip-separating arbors disposed within saidcasing in spaced relation to said side walls above and below the planeof said lips, and supporting means for said arbors.

3. A strip-folder for sewing machines, comprising, a tubular casinghaving side walls each provided interiorly of the casing with afold-edge turning lip merging concavely at opposite sides thereof intothe inner face of the respective casing side wall, substantially flatarbors disposed within said casing with their side edges spaced from thecasing side walls above and below said lips, and supporting means forsaid arbors.

4. A sewing machine strip-folder having opposite side walls eachprovided lengthwise thereof with a fold-edge turning lip having itsopposite faces merging concavely into the proximate faces of said sidewalls, arbors having opposite side edges coacting with said lips andsaid side walls at opposite sides of said lips in inturning the marginsof superposed strips of material, strip-guiding walls confining saidstrips to flatwise engage said arbors, and supporting means for saidarbors.

5. A sewing machine strip-folder having tapered side walls providedlengthwise thereof with inwardly directed and opposed fold-edge turninglips, substantially fiat strip-separating arbors having their side edgesrespectively disposed at opposite sides of said lips in spaced relationto said side walls, strip-confining folder-walls disposed adjacenttheouter faces of said arbors, one of said arbors having a rearwardextension of reduced width projecting beyond the workdelivery end ofsaid walls, and supporting means providing for shifting said arborsendwise as a unit, relatively to said walls, from and into operativeposition.

6. A strip-folder for sewing machines, comprising, alongitudinally-tapered tubular casing having opposite side wallsprovided interiorly of said casing with opposed lips, arborscomplemental to said side walls and lips in inturning the side edges ofsuperposed strips of material, said arbors being disposed within saidcasing and extending longitudinally thereof in spaced relation to saidside walls above and below said lips, and means for detachablysupporting said arbors upon said side walls.

7. A strip-folder for sewing machines, comprising, alongitudinally-tapered tubular casing having side walls provided withinwardly directed and opposed lips, said side walls having forwardextensions each provided with an upwardly open notch, arbors disposedwithin said casing and extending longitudinally thereof in spacedrelation to said side walls above and below said lips, a spacing blockconnecting the forward ends of said arbors, and oppositely directed pinsprojecting from said spacing block and adapted to be seated detachablyin said notches, thereby to support said arbors.

8. A strip-folder for sewing machines, comprising, a tubular casinghaving its side and bottom walls extending forwardly from the tubularportion thereof to form an upwardly open trough, said side walls withinthe tubular portion of the casing having inwardly directed and opposedfoldedge turning lips, an arbor-carrying block adapted to be detachablysupported upon the side walls of said trough, and substantially flatarbors extending from said block into said tubular casing with the sideedges of said arbors spaced from the side walls of said casing above andbelow said lips.

9. A strip-folder for sewing machines, comprising, alongitudinally-tapered tubular casing having side walls provided withinwardly directed and opposed lips, an upwardly open trough havingsubstantially parallel side Walls and a bottom wall in substantialalinement with the side and bottom Walls, respectively, of said casing,the trough side walls each having an upwardly open notch and the troughbottom wall being provided with substantially parallel slots extendinglongitudinally of said trough, an arbor-carrying block provided withoppositely directed pins adapted to be removably seated in said sidewall notches, said block having spaced depending flanges adapted toenter the trough bottom wall slots, and substantially flat arborsadapted to extend from said block into said tubular casing with the sideedges of said arbors spaced from the side walls of the casing above andbelow the casing lips.

10. A strip-folder for sewing machines, comprising, a tubular casinghaving side walls each provided with an inwardly directed lip spacedfrom the lip of the other side wall, an upwardly open trough havingsubstantially parallel side walls and a bottom wall in substantialalinement with the side and bottom walls, respectively, of said casing,an arbor unit providing strip-guiding faces with side edges adapted toextend longitudinally of said casing at opposite sides of said casingside-wall lips, a finger extending from said arbor unit beyond thework-delivery end of said casing, and means for removably supportingsaid arbor unit upon the side walls of said trough.

11. In a sewing machine, the combination with work-feeding mechanism andstitch-forming mechanism including a pair of reciprocatory needlesspaced crosswise of the line of feed, of a strip-folder disposed infront of said needles comprising complemental casing and arbor unitsadapted to inturn the side edges of superposed strips of material, saidarbor unit being separable from said casing unit and having a fingerextending, in the operative position thereof, beyond the delivery end ofsaid casing unit and into the field of action of said feeding mechanism.

12. A strip-folder for sewing machines, comprising, separable casing andarbor units providing complemental edge-folding means arranged to inturnthe side edges of superposed strips of material between said strips,said arbor unit including flatwise superposed arbors providingvertically spaced fold-defining members within said casing adjacent eachof the opposed side walls thereof.

13. A strip-folder for sewing machines, comprising, a casing providing aplurality of opposed edge-turning walls, a plurality of arbors disposedwithin said casing and complemental to said walls in inturning the sideedges of superposed strips of material between said strips, one of saidarbors having a finger projecting beyond the work-delivery end of saidcasing, and supporting means providing for removing said arbors endwisefrom said casing.

14. A sewing machine strip-folder having opposite side walls eachprovided lengthwise thereof with a fold-edge turning lip, said lipsbeing spaced from and directed toward each other, arbors disposedbetween said side-walls and complemental to said side walls and lips ininturning the side edges of superposed strips of material between saidstrips, strip-confining folder-walls disposed adjacent the outer facesof said arbors, and supporting means providing for withdrawing saidarbors endwise from between said side walls.

15. A sewing machine strip-folder having opposite side walls eachprovided lengthwise thereof with a fold-edge turning lip directed towardthe lip of the opposite side wall, substantially fiat strip-separatingarbors disposed at opposite sides of said lips and widthwise extendingfrom adjacent one of said side walls to adjacent the other side wall,strip-confining folder-walls disposed adjacent the relatively remotefaces of said arbors, and supporting means providing for shifting saidarbors endwise as a unit and relatively to said side walls from and intooperative position.

16. A strip-folder for sewing mchines, comprising, a longitudinalytapered tubular casing having side walls each provided interiorly of thecasing with a fold-edge turning lip opposed to the lip of the oppositeside wall, and substantially flat arbors within said casing complementalto said side walls and lips in inturning the side edges of superposedstrips of material between said strips, one of said arbors having anextension projecting beyond the work-delivery end of said casing.

17. A strip-folder for sewing machines adapted to inturn the side edgesof superposed strips of material between said strips, comprising atubular casing having opposed edge-turning walls, and flat-wisesuperposed arbors disposed within said casing and providing a pair ofvertically spaced side edges complemental to each of said edgeturningwalls.

ALBERT A. ACKERMAN.

